Blue Water Sailing

[Randyonr3]

As I read through some of the posts, I find two completely different attitudes of sailing "Blue Water"
One being those that are looking to survive it...
And the second being of those that want to play in it...

Being of a Open Ocean Racing background, I find myself to be of the second catagory..

In which catagory to you fall??????

[donradcliffe]

In order to play in it, you have to survive.

For an example, take a look at the current News | Transat Jacques Vabre 2011 : Le Havre - Costa Rica | Octobre 2011

The Class 40 fleet is going through a series of fronts in the North Atlantic. Yesterday, the two lead boats split tacks, with Aquarelle headed south for less severe weather, and the young guns on Concise 2 headed west for a better VMG. Concise 2 took over the lead for a while, but now they are limping toward the Azores with a crack in the hull, while Aquarelle is back in the lead.

I love blue water racing, but when I'm out of VHF range of the Coast Guard I don't press my luck quite as hard.

[tropicalescape]

My boat was designed for offshore racing and a bit of comfort..hope it lives up to it ..I dont race...yet..DVC

[boatman61]

Survive it...

[holmek]

Sail defensively. Sure, it's most pleasureable to have the boat sail at her best, and an efficient passage gives a better sense of achievement. BUT. The most destructive thing is a bunch of young guys daring each other that it is not necessary to reef yet, or, hell yes, we can fly the chute in 40kts. Always sail as if you were singlehanding and had to control the boat alone, - then any defects or weak spots will not be tested to their limits. Treat your boat like your life, - ; Don't over stress !

[zeehag]

it wont let me vote twice--i love playing in it but i also wish to survive that ...LOL

[sneuman]

I have found that in my limited offshore passages (less than a dozen), it is nearly always the best part of the trip. There's nothing quite like that feeling of seeing no one in any direction -- for most of us, it's an experience from a bygone era. And, as an amateur astronomer, the night sky offshore is a wonderful bonus.

[Target9000]

Depends on if you're in a Hunter or not.... *ducks*


I kid... I kid....

[Randyonr3]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

I love blue water racing, but when I'm out of VHF range of the Coast Guard I don't press my luck quite as hard.

Odd you mention that, as a couple years ago I was setting around the Bar at the Oakland Yacht club with a couple guys from the Single Handed Sailing Society and we were talking Transpac..
The conversation of radios came up and one of the guys said on his last transpac, he was over 1000 miles out and picked up the mic and hailed a fellow boat who was also doing the race.. a couple minutes into the conversation, CG San Francisco came on the radio and asked them to take the conversation to another channel as 16 was for hailing and emergency..
The only thing we could think of was that there must have been a CG plane somewhere with a repeter in it..
The moral to the story.. someone is always listening

[wildbillca]

I've sailed from the Saint Larwence river to Canada thru the canal and I'm getting ready to go thru again.You only get scared once the rest is a adventure...Wildbill..

[VirtualVagabond]

Play.
Survival is just necessary to make it possible...

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by wildbillca

I've sailed from the Saint Larwence river to Canada thru the canal and I'm getting ready to go thru again.You only get scared once the rest is a adventure...Wildbill..

Welcome to the CF Wildbill.

We'd love to know a bit more about your William Garden 60' some time

[svHyLyte]

While we day-sail on Tampa Bay and thereabouts, I always find it a bit nerve wracking to have a lot of (frequently) unpredictable traffic about. Once we pass the southwest channel sea buoy, enroute somewhere or other, we seem to be able to relax and enjoy ourselves much more.

FWIW..

[capn_billl]

I prefer to survive, just being out there is adventure enough. No need to tempt nature.

[Piney]

For me.. Nothing is more exciting than playing in huge waves and heavy weather.. Wondering if the sea is going to rip your boat apart and suck you down to Dave Jones is 75% of the thrill. Surviving it the other 25%.

Also.. I will NEVER carry and epirb or call for the Coasties. This captain goes down with the ship.

It 110% about self-reliance.